Minnesota Lutheran college museum exhibiting Hindu temple

Flaten Art Museum (FAM) in St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota), run by Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is showcasing drawings exploring Hindu temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia), built in the first half of 12th century dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

These drawings are part of exhibition titled “Anastylosis Project”, which will continue till January 22.

The expansive drawings by Art Professor Mary Griep examine Angkor Wat, said to be the largest religious monument in the world. “Anastylosis”, according to Museum release, refers to the practice of restoring a monument by dismantling and rebuilding the structure using the original methods and materials as closely as possible.

Commending FAM for exhibiting renowned Hindu temple drawings, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged major art museums of the world, including Musee du Louvre and Musee d’Orsay of Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles Getty Center, Uffizi Gallery of Florence (Italy), Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern of London, Prado Museum of Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, etc., to frequently organize Hindu art focused exhibitions, thus sharing the rich Hindu art heritage with the rest of the world.

St. Olaf College with a 300-acre campus, claimed to be “one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges” and founded in 1874 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants, offers majors in 39 disciplines. With students from 50 US states and 80 foreign countries, its Mission Statement includes “examine faith and values”. Flaten Art Museum has over 4,000 artifacts from around the world. Larry Stranghoener, David R. Anderson and Jane Becker Nelson are Board of Regents Chair, President and Museum Director respectively.